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Employment
The purpose of this page is to display information about employment for international students under an F1 status. If you were looking for a job, check Texas State's Career Services web site.
- F-1 Student Employment - Overview
On-Campus
Off Campus
CPT - Curricular Practical Training
OPT - Optional Practical Training
OPT - Extension
Severe Economic Hardship Work Authorization
Note: Each of the following four work options has a separate handout that provides you with a checklist for applying for the benefit. These handouts are available at the International Office or on this website download page.
Option 1: On-Campus Employment (Read more)
F-1 students may engage in on-campus employment if they do not displace an American worker and as long as it is limited to part-time (20 hours or less per week) during main semesters when school is in session or full-time (more than 20 hours a week) during the summer and official school breaks when school is not in session. At Texas State summer employment is limited to 25 hours/week when taking classes during the summer sessions. This is an institutional policy that applies to all students not only international. If not taking classes there is no limit.
Work is limited to employers who are located on campus and provide direct services to students. If you are concurrently enrolled at another campus, you may only work at the campus named on your I-20. Employment may be in any field and is not restricted to your academic major.
WARNING: Although no specific authorization for on-campus employment is required, you must remember that on-campus employment is contingent on maintaining your full-time student status. For example, if you drop below full-time hours without authorization from our office, your permission to work on-campus is immediately canceled. If you continue to work you are violating U.S. law and may be legally removed from the U.S.
Option 2: Curricular Practical Training (CPT)(Read more)
Curricular Practical Training is only available to F-1 students who are and have been lawfully enrolled as a full-time student for at least one academic year and are currently in status. The only exception is graduate students who are required to begin a required practicum or internship immediately. CPT can be authorized for part-time employment (20 hours a week or less) or full-time employment (more than 20 hours a week). Authorization for CPT must be renewed each semester that you wish to participate.
There are two kinds of CPT:
1) For Academic Credit: Refers to training that is a part of your degree program (a course) and for which academic credit is obtained. Only a limited number of majors at Texas State have a required practicum or internship (e.g. Graduate Computer Science). Aside from receiving authorization through our office for this program, you must also register for academic credit with your college. Set up an appointment with your academic advisor or internship coordinator to discuss your internship options.
2) Non-Credit COOP: This program refers to cooperative agreements between employers and a university.
Students who accumulate one year or more of full-time CPT (either type) are not eligible for Optional Practical Training (a separate program), which is usually authorized after the completion of a degree program.
Option 3: Severe Economic Hardship Work Authorization - Read more
As an F-1 student, you may be eligible to apply to the DHS for off-campus employment due to severe economic hardship. Once authorized, this program allows you to work in any kind of job off-campus. You are limited to part-time employment (a maximum of 20 hours per week) during the fall and spring semesters. You must also maintain a full course of study during the fall and spring semesters. You can work full-time during the summer or officially recognized school breaks. To be authorized, you must prove that you have severe economic hardship that is due to a change in your circumstances that are beyond your control or ability to predict. Authorization is usually granted for one year at a time. If authorized, you will receive an Employment Authorization Card from the DHS.
Option 4: Optional Practical Training (OPT) - Read more
Optional Practical Training (OPT) is available to F-1 students who are currently in legal status and have been for at least one academic year. OPT allows you to work up to 12 months anywhere in the U.S. in a field related to your major. An OPT extension of 17 month is also availble for STEM students as long as they meet all the requirements. For more information on this extension read the section OPT-Extension.
Applications must be submitted 90 days before the completion of your program and up to 60 days after your program completion. It is important to realize that your completion date does not necessarily correspond with the official ending of the semester or the graduation date. Since the application process may take up to 90 days and employment cannot begin until you have received an Employment Authorization Card, we recommend that you apply early.
Whatever time period is authorized by DHS cannot be changed or retrieved once the start date has taken effect, even if you do not use your OPT.